It has become a tradition for anime series to take a break from the story’s serious plot by sending the main characters to a communal hot spring resort. Rather than focusing on a plot-driven story, the directors provide extensive fan service for their audiences. Any water setting (e.g. beaches or swimming pools) would serve the same purpose of allowing you to see your favorite characters in a physically revealing swimsuit. Although these water episodes are limited to about once per season, it is not difficult to locate pictures and purchase figurines of your favorite characters wearing distinctive bathing suits. The abundance of such detailed reference material provides cosplayers with the opportunity to start a new, unexplored cosplay trend: Pool Cosplay.

I have often wondered why I have never seen a cosplayer wearing a character-specific swimsuit at a convention. With an on-site hotel at each convention, there should be some type of cosplay activity around or within a swimming pool. I don’t want to infringe upon the sanctuary where cosplayers can relax out of costume, but I believe that swimsuit cosplay could be a challenging, rewarding, and recognizable subculture within the anime community. Anime Oasis is one of the few conventions to schedule a swimsuit competition as an official event, but I’m not sure why the idea hasn’t spread – it just seems so obvious.